Ethical Challenges and Legal Issues for Mental Health Professionals Working With Family Caregivers of Individuals With Serious Mental Illness

• Published in: Ethics & behavior Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 607 - 620
• Main Author: Bellesheim, Katherine R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Routledge 02-10-2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Autonomy; Caregivers; Codes of conduct; Decision making; Ethical dilemmas; Ethics; Family work relationship; Medical personnel; Mental disorders; Mental health care; Mental health professionals; Mental health services; Multiple roles; Occupational health and safety; Professional ethics; Psychotherapy; serious mental illness; Social services delivery; Social workers; Unmet needs
• ISSN: 1050-8422; 1532-7019
• DOI: 10.1080/10508422.2015.1130097

Mental health professionals frequently work with family caregivers in the provision of psychotherapy services to individuals with serious mental illness. To address the need for ethical guidelines for working with family caregivers, an analysis of relevant ethical and legal issues is provided within the context of dynamic mental health care and legal systems. When working with family caregivers, practitioners utilize the American Psychological Association's Ethics Code (2010), legal codes, and a complex decision-making plan; identify and communicate ethical obligations to family caregivers; consider the unmet needs of this population; avoid harm resulting from multiple relationships; and balance ethical duties of beneficence and respect for autonomy.